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Could Ducks have revenge in mind against Arizona?

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Things got ugly for the Oregon Ducks very quickly the last time they played Arizona.

Marcus Mariota was intercepted on the first play from scrimmage. Bralon Addison dropped a pass near the sideline and Arizona cornerback Shaquille Richardson grabbed the carom, flipping it back to teammate Scooby Wright as he was falling out of bounds.

That ended Mariota’s Pac-12 record streak of passes without an interception at 353. The Wildcats would go on to win 42-16 in Tucson, handing the Ducks their first loss to an unranked team since 2009.

It dashed any hope that Oregon still had for a shot at the national championship after an earlier loss to Stanford. It also effectively put an end to a four-year run of postseason BCS bowl games.

So do the No. 2 Ducks want a little revenge on Thursday night when they host the Wildcats? The players have tried to say all the right things about focusing on themselves and not the opponent, but Keanon Lowe hinted that there was some payback at play.

“It’ll be a fun game, it’ll be a challenging game,” Lowe said. “We got our butts whooped last year so it will be fun to get another shot at them and play on a Thursday night.”

Mariota was sticking to the script that it’s “just another game.”

“We’re not even worrying about it,” he said. “We’ve just got to continue to execute what we have to.”

It wasn’t the first time Arizona had surprised the Ducks. Back in 2007, Oregon was ranked No. 2 and bidding for a national championship when quarterback Dennis Dixon’s injured knee gave out and Arizona won 34-23.

Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said he expects Oregon to be hyped up no matter what has happened in the past.

“I think they’re going to be fired up because there is a lot at stake. It’s a home game, a Thursday night, and their blackout game,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know if last year’s game will be extra motivation. It may be more motivation for preparation, but once the ball is kicked off, what happened last year is in the past.”

The Ducks (4-0, 1-0) had last weekend off after a 37-31 victory over Washington State that many have suggested exposed Oregon’s weaknesses, especially on defense. Injuries on the Ducks offensive line were also evident.

The Ducks used the off week, dubbed “improvement week” by coach Mark Helfrich, to work out the kinks.

Arizona has started 4-0 for the first time since 2010. The Wildcats haven’t gone 5-0 to start a season since 1998.

Arizona is also coming off a bye. The Wildcats’ last outing was a 49-45 victory over California — won when Anu Solomon hit Austin Hill on a 47-yard Hail Mary on the game’s final play. The pass has been dubbed the “Hill Mary”

Arizona scored 36 points in the final quarter, including 19 points in the final 3:30 alone.

Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has studied the film.

“They’re 4-0 and have a great offense and just came off a great comeback win so they’re going to have a lot of confidence and they know what they’re capable of doing,” he said. “They played us great last year and I’m sure they’re planning on trying to do the same this year.”

Helfrich suggested that anything the Ducks can use as motivation to make sure they win, even if it is revenge, well so be it.

“I think it would be impossible if you’re any kind of competitor to watch that film and feel real good about it,” he said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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